My Review:
I do not read a lot of historical romance and after reading this little novella series, I'm not quite sure why. Ms. James has penned a marvelous story in serial format and if you didn't know about the books yet, you are in luck because now all of them are out and you won't have to wait a week between releases to find out what happens between Grace and Colin next!

For some reason while I was perusing Edelweiss this serial just jumped right out at me and while not feeling well a couple of afternoons, I dove right in. And I plowed through all three in no time. Yes they are short, but they tell a full story and as I was formatting this post I was honestly shocked to see that they were only around 30 pages a piece. It seemed like I got so much more story than that, even for the combined pages. That is how magical it was to me.

The first story sets everything up. How Grace and Colin know each other and how their relationship grows and the first obstacle in their path. It's wonderful and it's heartbreaking all at the same time. The second and third continue the story toward their happy ending, but it's rough going getting there. I won't elaborate more but just know there is plenty of conflict in this novella serial to keep you reading. The plot is very interesting without being tedious. I was fully immersed in it and almost hated having to change books (but I did it, in a hurry I might add).

The characters are marvelous, from Grace and Colin to Grace's little sister to Grace and Colin's parents. I loved them all, but I loved the stubborn Grace and Colin best and so cheered for them to fall in love despite the odds that seemed to be against them at every turn. I just can't say enough about these characters without giving anything away.

If you've read Ms. James (I hadn't) or you just enjoy a good historical I think this would be for you. It's a quick enthralling read. Again feel blessed they are all out now, I can't imagine having to wait a week between installments. I would just feel bereft!

There is a note on Goodreads that Lady Grace is the daughter of the main characters from The Ugly Duchess and Colin is the adopted son of the main character from Seduced by a Pirate. So more reasons to read for you Eloisa James fans. And now more reasons for me to read Eloisa James' backlist.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:Part One:

Lady Grace Ryburn, the
daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, has fallen wildly in love
with Colin Barry, a dashing young lieutenant serving his country in the
Royal Navy. When he returns home to exuberant celebrations, will he even
notice the quiet wallflower he grew up with … or will he fall for
Grace's sparkling, gorgeous sister?

Part Two: Lady Grace Ryburn has
accepted another man's proposal after the love of her life, Lieutenant
Colin Barry, asked for her own sister's hand in marriage.

But
when Colin returns home from the wars, injured in body and spirit, will
she be able to turn her back and marry another? Or will she throw away
every rule her mother taught her and try to seduce a man who has shown
no interest in her kisses?

Part Three:Lieutenant Colin Barry
returns from the wars injured in body and spirit, knowing that he has no
right to steal Grace from the arms of her fiancé. Yet the same
warrior's spirit that won so many battles at sea is prompting him to
throw propriety to the winds, imitate his pirate father, and simply take
what he most desires!About the Author (from Goodreads.com): New York Times
bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for
HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great
acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

After
graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford
University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare
professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press.
Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing
program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a
source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial
guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance,
as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as
More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.